Chapter 54: Heading to Cannes

Inside the VIP lounge of Xiangjiang Airport, Xiang Qian, wearing sunglasses and holding a boarding pass, checked the passenger list: "Has Brother Long arrived? Where is Sister Hong?"

"Coming, coming!" Cheng Long rushed in with great fanfare, followed by an assistant carrying bags large and small. "Qianzai! I'm not late, am I?"

Xiang Qian glanced at his watch: "Five minutes later, and the plane wouldn't have waited for you."

Kara Wai sat elegantly on the sofa, holding a cup of coffee: "Brother Long, I heard you pulled an all-nighter filming last night?"

Cheng Long chuckled: "It was the final fight scene; I had to perform it myself!"

Everyone burst into laughter. Lin Lin Qingxia entered arm-in-arm with Zhao Zhao Yazhi; the moment the two goddesses appeared, the entire lounge seemed to brighten.

"Sister Lin Qingxia!" Carina Lau hurried over. "Your outfit is stunning!"

Lin Lin Qingxia smiled gently: "You look wonderful too, Liu Jialing; that skirt suits you perfectly."

The boarding announcement crackled over the speakers, and the group began making their way toward the gate.

Xu Xu Guanying suddenly grabbed Xiang Qian: "Qianzai, I... I'm a bit afraid of flying..."

Before Xiang Qian could speak, Zheng Zheng Peipei patted Xu Xu Guanying on the shoulder: "What's there to fear? When I was filming stunts on wires back in the day, it was far more dangerous than this!"

Ti Lung, cigar in mouth, declared with bold spirit: "A real man fears nothing; it's just a plane ride!"

Fang Fang Yihua walked over and handed Xu Xu Guanying a pill: "This is a sedative; take it, and you won't be afraid."

After the plane took off smoothly, the flight attendants began distributing meals.

Cheng Long frowned at his tray: "Why is it Western food again? I want wonton noodles!"

Kara Wai elegantly cut her steak: "Brother Long, just make do; once we reach France, you'll have plenty to eat."

Zhou Xingxing suddenly raised his hand: "Miss! Do you have fish balls with thick noodles?"

The flight attendant looked utterly bewildered: "Huh?"

"Fish balls and thick noodles!" Zhou Xingxing said with deadpan seriousness. "No fish balls? Then how about just the thick noodles?"

Xiang Qian pressed his forehead: "Xingzai, stop messing around..."

Lin Lin Qingxia and Zhao Zhao Yazhi sat nearby, chatting softly.

"Zhao Yazhi, the gown you brought this time is truly beautiful," Lin Lin Qingxia praised.

Zhao Zhao Yazhi smiled faintly: "Sister Lin Qingxia's is the one that will stun everyone; I heard it was a special custom creation by Chanel?"

Carina Lau leaned in: "Two elder sisters, could you share your secrets for maintaining your youth?"

Fang Fang Yihua and Xiang Qian sat in the front row, discussing festival strategies in low voices.

"Qianzai, now that 'Parasite' has been selected for the Main Competition, what are our chances of winning?" Fang Fang Yihua asked.

Xiang Qian pondered for a moment: "Quentin is the Jury President; he has always favored works with a strong style."

Fang Fang Yihua nodded: "I've already arranged the red carpet sequence; Lin Qingxia and Zhao Yazhi will lead the way, with Cheng Long closing the show."

"What about public relations?"

"Rest assured," Fang Fang Yihua said confidently. "Exclusive interviews with the three major European media outlets have all been scheduled."

Suddenly, the plane hit an air pocket and began to shake violently.

Xu Xu Guanying gripped the armrests tightly, his face pale: "It's over, it's over! I'm going to die!"

Zheng Zheng Peipei calmly fastened her seatbelt: "This is nothing; when I was filming at Shaw Brothers, things were far more thrilling than this."

Kara Wai glanced out the window: "It's just cloud layers; we'll pass through them soon."

Sure enough, a few minutes later, the plane stabilized.

Cheng Long let out a long sigh of relief: "That scared me to death; I thought I was going to meet Bruce Lee ahead of schedule."

The flight attendant's voice came over the intercom: "Ladies and gentlemen, we will soon be arriving at the airport..."

Xiang Qian stood up and addressed the group: "Everyone, are you ready to embrace Cannes?"

Everyone shouted in unison: "We're ready!"